Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget 2026 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Groundwater Authority approves nearly $9.3 million 2026 budget; staff to reconcile interfund loans
Summary
The Groundwater Authority voted to adopt a 2026 budget with about $9.3 million in revenues and $8.66 million in expenses, funding several grant-funded projects and using settlement money to address prior interfund loans.
The Groundwater Authority on a recorded motion approved its proposed 2026 budget, which General Manager Carol presented as nearly $9.3 million in total revenues and about $8.66 million in expenses.
General Manager Carol summarized the funding picture, saying, “we have total revenues budgeted for about 9 point, nearly $9,300,000 and, total expenses of about $8.66,” and described large grant programs and a settlement that will offset operating costs.
The budget relies in part on grant reimbursements and fees: Carol outlined revenue sources that include an estimated $900,000 from an extraction fee, grant reimbursements tied to several programs, and an estimated $633,000 from a second transient-pool settlement tied to Mojave Pistachios that will be transferred to the extraction fund to help cover operating costs.
Water Resource Manager Steve said settlement monies already are being used to reconcile interfund loans between replenishment (augmentation) and extraction funds, telling the board that “the settlement monies from the Mojave Pistachio settlement were able to, offset those, inner fund loans.” He added staff will provide detailed accounting and said the remaining interfund balances will be closed out once final numbers are available.
Board members questioned how the internal loans would be repaid and whether fund restrictions could affect how settlement proceeds are used; staff said they will present the accounting and any legal or programmatic constraints for board review.
A motion to adopt the budget was made by a board member (Speaker 2) and seconded by Water Resource Manager Steve (Speaker 9). Multiple board members voted "Aye" and the motion carried, formally adopting the 2026 budget.
The board directed staff to provide follow-up materials on the interfund loan reconciliation and to bring any proposed budget modifications to the board during the year as legal matters and grant details are resolved.
